1. Physical Development and Health in Early Childhood
Chapter 9

2. Aspects of Physiological Development
Bodily Growth and Change
In early childhood (3 to 6 years), children slim down and shoot up
Muscular and skeletal growth makes children stronger
Growth changes promote development of a wide range of motor skills

3. Aspects of Physiological Development
Nutrition: Preventing Overweight
Overweight increase is greatest among children in low-income families
Preschoolers need fewer calories in proportion to their weight, but eating patterns become more environmentally influenced as they age
Young people of all ages eat too much fat and sugar and too few servings of fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products.
What's Your View?
Much television advertising aimed at young children fosters poor nutrition by promoting fats and sugars rather than proteins and vitamins. How might parents counteract these pressures?
What do you think accounts for the rising prevalence of obesity in preschoolers? What suggestions can you make for preventing it?

4. Aspects of Physiological Development
Nutrition: Preventing Overweight
What children eat is as important as how much they eat
Prevention of overweight is critical, as long-term treatment success for obesity is limited
Overweight children tend to be overweight adults
Young people of all ages eat too much fat and sugar and too few servings of fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products.
What's Your View?
Much television advertising aimed at young children fosters poor nutrition by promoting fats and sugars rather than proteins and vitamins. How might parents counteract these pressures?
What do you think accounts for the rising prevalence of obesity in preschoolers? What suggestions can you make for preventing it?

5. Aspects of Physiological Development
Sleep Patterns and Problems
Walking and talking during sleep are fairly common in early childhood
Occasional nightmares: not cause for alarm
Sleep (or night) terror: awakens in a state of panic
About 20 to 30 percent of children in their first 4 years engage in bedtime struggles lasting more than an hour and wake their parents frequently at night.

6. Aspects of Physiological Development
Sleep Patterns and Problems
Enuresis (bed-wetting) is repeated urination, especially at night
Enuresis runs in families; tends to be more concordant in identical twins than fraternal twins
Usually, enuresis is common, not serious, and has effective treatments available
About 20 to 30 percent of children in their first 4 years engage in bedtime struggles lasting more than an hour and wake their parents frequently at night.

7. Motor Development Motor Skills
Gross motor skills involve the large muscles
Fine motor skills--manipulative eye-hand and small-muscle coordination in skills
Video

8. Motor Skill Development in Early Childhood
Gross Motor Skills
Walking, running smoother
Catching, throwing, swinging, riding
Fine Motor Skills
Self-help: dressing, eating
Drawing

9. Motor Development Artistic Development
Children's early pictures show energy and freedom; later, they show care and accuracy
Since the left hemisphere of the brain, which controls the right side of the body, is usually dominant, most people favor their right side.

10. Progression of Drawing Skills
Scribbles: during 2nd year
First Representational Forms
Label already-made drawings:
around age 3
Draw boundaries and people:
3–4 years
More Realistic Drawings: preschool to school age
Early Printing: Ages 3–5

11. Development of Children’s Drawing

12. Motor Development Handedness: Preference for using a particular hand
Usually evident by 3 years of age
Is handedness genetic or learned?
Left-handed incidence is culturally influenced
Since the left hemisphere of the brain, which controls the right side of the body, is usually dominant, most people favor their right side.

13. Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect
Maltreatment: Facts and Figures
Highest rates are for children 3 and under
American Indian, Alaska Native, and African American children have the highest rates
Physical aggression occurs at least 1-2x a year in nearly 9 out of 10 households

14. Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect
Contributing Factors: An Ecological View
Maltreatment by parents is aggravated by other family problems
A disproportionate number of abused and neglected children are in large, poor, or single-parent families
Characteristics of abusive parents and families

15. Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect
Contributing Factors: An Ecological View
Characteristics of neglectful parents and families
Abuse and neglect often happen in the same household
Two cultural values associated with child abuse are societal violence and physical punishment of children

16. Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect
Effects of Maltreatment
Effects include physical, emotional, cognitive, and social consequences
Behavior problems in school
Often have disorganized-disoriented attachments to their parents and negative, distorted self-concepts
Fearfulness and low self-esteem often continue into adulthood. Adults who were sexually abused as children tend to be anxious, depressed, angry, or hostile; to mistrust people; to feel isolated and stigmatized; to be sexually maladjusted; and to use alcohol and drugs.

17. Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect
Effects of Maltreatment
Deprived of early positive social interactions interfere with social skill development
Abused children are at higher risk of becoming delinquent, criminal, or mentally ill
Fearfulness and low self-esteem often continue into adulthood. Adults who were sexually abused as children tend to be anxious, depressed, angry, or hostile; to mistrust people; to feel isolated and stigmatized; to be sexually maladjusted; and to use alcohol and drugs.

18. Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect
Helping Families in Trouble or at Risk
Since maltreatment is a multifactorial problem, it needs many-pronged solutions
Many services exist for abused children and their parents
Child removal and alternative placement care has negative effects
The plight of abused and neglected children is one for which society needs to find more effective remedies. Without help, maltreated children often grow up with serious problems, at great cost to themselves and to society, and may continue the cycle of maltreatment when they have children of their own.

19. Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect
Helping Families in Trouble or at Risk
The plight of abused and neglected children needs more effective remedies
State and local child protective services agencies investigate reports of child maltreatment and determine what steps, if any, need to be taken
The plight of abused and neglected children is one for which society needs to find more effective remedies. Without help, maltreated children often grow up with serious problems, at great cost to themselves and to society, and may continue the cycle of maltreatment when they have children of their own.